Rabbits give birth 30 days after mating, producing 4-5 times a year. When starting a rabbit breeding farm ensure that bucks are 6-8 months weighing 2-3 kg and doors 6-7 months weighing with 2kg.
Additionally, 12-14 days after mating check doe for pregnancy. Usually a pregnant doe weighs 200 grams and more. Furthermore, 14 days after mating avoid feeling the belly and gently handle pregnant rabbits to avoid abortion. Avoid inbreeding by separating the young male and female rabbits at the age of 3 months to prevent infertility.
Management involved
Start by selecting good healthy bucks and doors for breeding purposes with males having well developed testicles and females with 4 pairs of developed teats.
Also do not keep bucks together to avoid fighting within cages and to ensure that animals are in good health.
Additionally, replace poor bucks to ensure high yields and isolate and watch newly purchased rabbits to avoid the spread of diseases.
Furthermore, check doe‘s on heat and take them to bucks. However if mating fails within 2-5 minutes take the doe‘s to other bucks.
Also to ensure successful mating let the animals mate twice before removing the doe from the buck‘s cage.
Always record the mating date, name/number of mating rabbits to find out the performance of both the does and bucks. Also for proper fertilization breed animals either early morning or late evening.
Ensure exposing new bucks to experienced doe‘s and make sure that bucks mate once a day to prevent them from getting tired.
Lastly, 5 days before the doe gives birth prepare the nest and put in dry beddings for the young ones.
